NPS Addresses Alleged Deaths of Kenyan Police Officers in Haiti

The National Police Service (NPS) has dismissed reports making rounds on social media that Kenyan police officers have died in Haiti.

Through its official social media accounts, the NPS flagged a clip on Monday, July 1, which purported that seven officers from the service had been killed while on the peacekeeping mission in Haiti. 

The reports, which the NPS has now dismissed as fake, came days after the first batch of 400 Kenyan police officers left for Haiti on June 24.

President William Ruto handed the peace mission the Kenyan flag during an event held at the National Police College, Embakasi Campus in Nairobi.

The president told the officers that the government will support them, adding that they were selected for the peace mission on the basis of their integrity, professionalism, and capabilities.

"We will support and pray for you. As a country, we respect the rule of law, freedom, and democracy. This is why we want you to help the people of Haiti achieve these values that they have been denied by criminal gangs," he remarked.

President Ruto said the Haiti Transitional Presidential Council and the Prime Minister had shared with him their expectations that the officers would support the Haitian police in restoring public safety and security.

The officers touched down in Haiti on June 25 and no updates have been received from the mission since then.